I suspect I might be issuing this plea on the wrong website but … is anyone here pals with King Charles III? Can you please tell his majesty to keep an eye on the post because my four-year-old has written the king a letter cordially inviting him to pop over to Philadelphia for ice-cream and “a big hug”. I’m not banking on this request being fulfilled, but I’m trying this new thing where I put my hopes and dreams out there in the world and wait to see what happens. (One hopes a restraining order from Buckingham Palace is not what happens.)
To be crystal clear: sharing ice-cream with aristocracy is not one of my personal hopes or dreams. I think the monarchy is ridiculous. However, I seem to have inadvertently raised a staunch royalist who has developed a fixation on King Charles. I blame Elsa of Arendelle from the film Frozen for this. Like many little children, my daughter had an intense Frozen phase, which led to her falling victim to the broader princess industrial complex. I then made the mistake of mentioning the fact that Britain has a royal family and showing her a clip from the coronation. She was not impressed with Queen Camilla (her dress wasn’t frilly enough), but Charles and his fancy crown stole her heart.
As a feminist and republican (not the American sort), I can’t say I’m thrilled by all this but I’m letting the king-and-princess phase run its course while dropping subtle hints that doctors and sanitation workers add far more to society than people whose ancestors seized a bunch of land. I’ve also tried to gently explain that we live in the United States, a country traditionally hostile to kings.
I say “traditionally” because Donald Trump, who is off to visit Charles at Windsor Castle later this year, certainly seems to fancy himself a monarch. Melania is also keen on royalty; the first lady has said she is pen pals with Charles, and the pair have engaged in deep conversations. Perhaps the US will get a King Trump in my daughter’s lifetime. It’s certainly more likely than universal healthcare. Anyway, long live the (actual) king and all that. But I hope my kid’s monarchy obsession is as short-lived as possible.
• Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist
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